Fanning to coach Faithful

Former All-Ireland winning Tipperary hurler and coach Declan Fanning is expected to join the Offaly hurling management set-up in 2019.

According to Pat Nolan in the Irish Daily Mirror, Offaly manager Kevin Martin has secured the Killenaule's services and will join outgoing selectors Damian Fox (Tullamore) and Cathal Murphy (Ballyskenagh/Killavilla) in the new backroom team, while Birr's Garech Dooley also coming on board as a selector. The Faithful were relegated to the Joe McDonagh Cup this summer and will be desparate to regain their top-tier status next year.

An All-Star full back in 2007, Fanning went on to win an All-Ireland medal with Tipp in 2010 when they famously stopped Kilkenny's "drive-for-five". He was part of the Tipp managment team for the past three years and was coach when they lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2016.